CDK8
Overview
CDK8 (cyclin-dependent kinase 8) is a transcriptional regulator and component of the Mediator complex that controls RNA polymerase II activity. It has oncogenic roles in colorectal cancer and other tumor types through modulation of Wnt/beta-catenin signaling and MYC-target gene programs. CDK8 amplification has been observed in aggressive neuroendocrine neoplasms.
Alterations observed in the corpus
- Focal amplification in ovarian MiNEN patient PN19 alongside MYC amplification and KRAS mutation in a WGTA-guided therapy study of metastatic neuroendocrine neoplasms PMID:24326773
- Focal amplification in a CRC patient lacking β-catenin/RAS-pathway mutations; known WNT/β-catenin regulator; co-amplified with RASA1 nonsense context in patient 14 PMID:25164765
- Identified as a significantly mutated gene in African American colorectal cancers (discovery and validation cohorts, 103 AA vs. 129 Caucasian CRC samples) PMID:25583493
Cancer types (linked)
- Ovarian mixed neuroendocrine-non-neuroendocrine neoplasm (MiNEN): co-amplified with MYC in an aggressive, treatment-refractory case PMID:24326773
Co-occurrence and mutual exclusivity
- Co-amplified with MYC and co-occurring with KRAS gain-of-function in ovarian MiNEN PN19 PMID:24326773
Therapeutic relevance
- No direct CDK8-inhibitor recommendation made in source paper; co-occurrence with MYC amplification flagged as marker of aggressive, chemo-resistant disease PMID:24326773
Open questions
- Whether CDK8 amplification is a driver or passenger in NEN contexts requires further investigation PMID:24326773
Sources
This page was processed by crosslinker on 2026-05-14. - PMID:25164765
This page was processed by crosslinker on 2026-05-14. - PMID:25583493
This page was processed by crosslinker on 2026-05-14.